Regardless of the fact that Deshaun Watson will not face criminal charges over the allegations made by over 20 women, the reports and revelations just keep getting worse for the Cleveland Browns quarterback.
A day after a 24th woman sued Watson over allegations of sexual assault and harassment during massages, the New York Times published a report by Jenny Vrentas that reveals Watson met at least 66 women for massages over a 17-month period, far more than was previously known and admitted to. The report also infers that the Houston Texans played a role in enabling Watson to keep his indiscretions under wraps.
A spa in a strip mall and the team he played for at the time played roles in enabling this series of massages. And the regular dialogue Hardin had with prosecutors before the grand jury demonstrates, at the least, the value of a well paid and well connected lawyer.
— Jenny Vrentas (@JennyVrentas) June 7, 2022
According to the Times, Watson was enabled by the Houston Texans, who provided Watson with a venue for some of the appointments and a nondisclosure agreement that he gave to at least one woman who is now suing him.
— Katie Strang (@KatieJStrang) June 7, 2022
While Watson has claimed that he hired around 40 therapists during his five seasons in Houston, the Times found that he booked appointments with “at least 66 different women in just the 17 months from fall 2019 through spring 2021.” They also spoke with some of the women, who shared disturbing stories all too similar to the ones told by Watson’s other accusers.
You can read the full article here and there’s no way you get to the end of it and feel good about the massive contract that the Cleveland Browns signed Watson to this offseason, nor the way they tried to circumvent any potential league fines in the way they structured it. The franchise also looks worse and worse for not speaking with any of the accusers.
There’s going to be a lot of people needing to explain themselves in the coming days, and if we’ve learned anything, not particularly well.
[NY Times]
